Hyderabad: No of Positive returnees from UK jumps to 16

Hyderabad: The number of flyers from the UK who were found to be infected with Covid-19 increased to 16 on Friday. This includes the seven identified on Thursday. All of them have been shifted to government hospitals and put up in special wards for treatment.

The swab samples of the virus infected persons were sent to CCMB lab for genome sequencing to check for the presence of the new variant (B.1.1.7) and the reports are expected by Sunday.

According to Director of Public Health Dr G Srinivasa Rao, the infected flyers included four each from Hyderabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, two from Jagtial, one each from Mancherial, Nalgonda, Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Siddipet and Warangal Urban districts. Also, another 76 persons who have been in close contact with the 16 infected are identified and placed in quarantine and their health condition is being monitored closely.

The health department stated that from December 9 till date 1,200 people have returned to Telangana from the UK or via the UK and out of them 926 persons have been identified and corona tests have been conducted on them. "Those who have come directly to the State from the UK after December 9 or have travelled through the UK are kindly requested to provide their details by calling on 040-24651119 or by texting on WhatsApp to 9154170960. Staff from the health department will visit their homes to conduct health check-ups," the Director said, pointing out that they are depending on Tracing, Testing and Treatment to prevent the spread of the virus," the director added.

Meanwhile, most of the infected passengers who returned to their native state are found to be asymptomatic. In normal course they would have been advised home isolation until recovery. However, in view of the new variant from the UK found to be fast spreading, the health department is not taking any chances with the infected persons. It has directed all DMHOs to shift positive cases to isolated wards in state hospitals irrespective of them being asymptomatic or having mild symptoms.

Meanwhile, health authorities are of the opinion that the infected passengers may not be carrying the new variant in their bodies.